Jonathon Welch AM

Pipe Bands Victoria wishes to acknowledge the achievements of a former member, Jonathon Welch AM.

Jonathon has achieved much in music over a 40 years, and in 2008 was recognised as the “Local Hero” in the Australian of the Year Awards.

He has had a distinguished career as a professional musician, culminating in recent years as the founding Artistic Director of the “Choir of Hard Knocks”, a position he held for 12 years. After 40 years in the industry, including the award winning ABC television series “Choir of Hard Knocks”, Jonathon retired from that choir this month, expressing it to be a “refirement” not a “retirement” as he is proceeding to work nationally with various choirs and in various ways into the future.

The choir focused on raising awareness of the social issues of homelessness, depression and addition through the television documentary, and for many, demonstrated the power of singing as an avenue to renew confidence for many individuals.

Over his career, Jonathon achieved much for music, choirs and the underprivileged. He was for 10 years a drummer with the Moorabbin City Pipe Band, years of disciplined training and experience which helped inspire his life as a professional musician.

We wish Jonathon well in the future.